Introduction
Elon Musk is one of the most renowned modern leaders whose actions have dramatically changed the functioning of corporations. Numerous critical actions needed from a leader can be found in an organizational change effort that Elon Musk made. These actions are examples of successful leadership that can be implemented in similar circumstances. Therefore, Elon Musk can be regarded as a role model in organizational change leadership, and his actions illustrate this hypothesis.
Organizational Change by Elon Musk
Innovations
The first action contributing to the organizational change was implementing innovations in practice without extensive testing. Musk is the driving force behind several notable innovations, such as PayPal’s challenge to the banking system and SpaceX’s breaking down barriers and upending the entire space industry (Hanson, 2020). These are all characteristics of transformational leadership, and Musk has been able to intellectually inspire, motivate, and support his followers’ enthusiasm for exploring new ideas and opportunities (Hanson, 2020). Therefore, applying innovative technologies in practice is crucial in organizational change.
Commitment
The second issue is the exceptional commitment to work that requires transformation. This assumption can be illustrated by the launching of a new Tesla model. For example, Musk’s team worked with him in several shifts before presenting the new vehicle, the Tesla Model 3. This shows that Elon Musk inspires employees, coordinates their actions while operating, and participates actively in this process (Hanson, 2020). It makes him an integral part of the team and makes success impossible without his presence.
Firing the Disagreeing
The third action with long-term consequences Elon Musk made is changing the employees who do not share his optimism concerning the final product. For instance, people who worked on launching Tesla projects under his leadership recall that if someone said that the things Musk described could not be done, this person was instantly fired (Hanson, 2020). From one point of view, it is a radical approach to solving issues in organizational change. At the same time, it makes the employees work harder and achieve their goals, which leads to effective results for the corporation.
Professionalism
The fourth example of organizational change success is professionalism in detail while approaching leadership problems. For instance, when Musk worked at SpaceX, he communicated with the scientists and interacted with the details about the current concerns about the rocket launch or the battery capacity (Redding, 2021). It makes the solutions he proposes as the leader more effective and credible for the knowledgeable audience. As a result, Musk’s authority among the employees is high, and they do not hesitate to follow him.
Fast Decision-Making
The fifth action that can be regarded as effective organizational change leadership is instant decision-making. The employees who worked with him say that he does not hesitate when making a decision and then changes the work process, so this proposition becomes the best solution (Redding, 2021). From one perspective, this approach is not balanced, but at the same time, it does not imply controversial opinions concerning the problem. It is possible to see an example of this behavior when Musk bought Twitter and started to reform the company from the inside.
Conclusion
Elon Musk’s ability to challenge the existing order of things and take the non-typical route is one characteristic that makes his professional qualities exceptional. However, it gives positive results and shows that his strategies are effective. As the discussion offers, his management style can be described as responsible and focused on rapidly solving existing problems. Moreover, transformation strategy is the core of the leadership he utilizes to enhance creativity and inspire change.
References
Hanson, R. (2020). Elon Musk: A biography of billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk. Ingram Publishing.
Redding, A. C. (2021). Elon Musk: A mission to save the world. Square Fish.